Sunday, October 22, 2006
In the Blink of an Eye
My youngest child and I traveled to the “big city” yesterday for his senior pictures appointment. The anticipation of this event had caused a bit of controversy between us—I was quite nitpicky about his appearance, particularly his haircut and facial hair. He was not exactly pleased with my mandate to shave his beard. “I want you to look like a 17-year-old, not a lumberjack in his 20’s,” I pleaded. “This picture is really for me—it will hang in a place of honor on my wall for years to come.” He breathed a low sigh of exasperation, but acquiesced.
As he began picking out clothes to wear for the photo sitting, I advised him to select outfits that were usual or customary for him, so the pictures would portray his normal look as the fresh, promising youth verging on adulthood that I envision him. “So if you want my normal look, why did you make me shave?” he muttered. Touche, I thought, but brightly answered, “Just pick out your favorite shirts and jeans. And don’t forget your suit with a tie.”
We arrived early at the Photography Studio and Gardens, and were pleased to see that the photographer was doing some outside shots despite the cold temperatures and threatening snow clouds. The “gardens” are truly impressive—not for the exquisite foliage, but because of the sheer number of artificial, yet almost natural-looking picture-posing venues in such a small area. There is a swing, a rock garden, a large tree stump, a rail fence, flagstone steps and patio, a stone wall, an arch, a wrought-iron bench, and a tree-lined path, all abutting each other with willows and birches defining, yet separating each scene. This photographer’s fantasyland is neatly landscaped into an area the size of a two-car garage with a short driveway.
We started inside, however, with the serious coat and tie picture. The photographer, Mark, and his wife Lisa, work as a team. She organizes the client’s wardrobe, determines shooting order, fusses with collars and buttons, and places the client in those oh-so-posed but supposedly natural stances. I mean, I’m not sure I have ever observed my son languidly leaning against a window, arms folded, leg crossed and heel up, with a bemused flicker of a smile. Yet there he was, doing just that, looking almost like he always stood that way.
Lisa and Mark probably never call a young man by the wrong name, because quite simply, every young man is probably “Big Guy” to them. “Let’s have you sit right here, Big Guy. Perfect. Now slide that left hand down a little. OK. Tilt your head this way, Big Guy. That’s it. Now let’s try this, Big Guy…” I think they each addressed my son by his given name only once. By the end of the afternoon, I was tempted to call him Big Guy myself.
I have to admit that Mark was an extremely patient photographer. My son tends to blink every time the camera flashes. Out of the first 16 pictures Mark took, Big Guy’s eyes were closed on 13 of them. “Wow. I gotta say, Big Guy, you have the fastest reaction time of any person I’ve ever photographed. This is definitely a record.” Mark tried to be jocular, but I could tell that he was perplexed, and a little frustrated, that his usual remedies of asking the client to blink or say something just before he snapped the picture, were not working with my son. He began reviewing every picture to see if it were acceptable. Eventually he got a rhythm going, and by the time he had snapped 30 shots, he even had four in a row with open eyes. “We’re on the money, Big Guy!” he exclaimed, and then again each time he was successful thereafter.
Four clothing changes and several indoor and outdoor scene changes later, Big Guy was finished. Mark presented us with a laminated photo of one of the suit and tie photos—eyes open—and instructed us to talk to Carla, who gave us information about all the photo package possibilities. She told us to expect the proofs in about a week.
We’re looking forward to the proofs’ arrival. At that time we will pore over all those natural Big Guy poses and pick out the best ones. They will become the yearbook photo, the graduation announcement photos, the grandparents’ photos, and yes, the matted and framed 11 x14 with accompanying 5 x7’s that will hang in a place of honor on my wall for years to come. It seems that in the blink of an eye, my son has grown from little boy to young man.
As he began picking out clothes to wear for the photo sitting, I advised him to select outfits that were usual or customary for him, so the pictures would portray his normal look as the fresh, promising youth verging on adulthood that I envision him. “So if you want my normal look, why did you make me shave?” he muttered. Touche, I thought, but brightly answered, “Just pick out your favorite shirts and jeans. And don’t forget your suit with a tie.”
We arrived early at the Photography Studio and Gardens, and were pleased to see that the photographer was doing some outside shots despite the cold temperatures and threatening snow clouds. The “gardens” are truly impressive—not for the exquisite foliage, but because of the sheer number of artificial, yet almost natural-looking picture-posing venues in such a small area. There is a swing, a rock garden, a large tree stump, a rail fence, flagstone steps and patio, a stone wall, an arch, a wrought-iron bench, and a tree-lined path, all abutting each other with willows and birches defining, yet separating each scene. This photographer’s fantasyland is neatly landscaped into an area the size of a two-car garage with a short driveway.
We started inside, however, with the serious coat and tie picture. The photographer, Mark, and his wife Lisa, work as a team. She organizes the client’s wardrobe, determines shooting order, fusses with collars and buttons, and places the client in those oh-so-posed but supposedly natural stances. I mean, I’m not sure I have ever observed my son languidly leaning against a window, arms folded, leg crossed and heel up, with a bemused flicker of a smile. Yet there he was, doing just that, looking almost like he always stood that way.
Lisa and Mark probably never call a young man by the wrong name, because quite simply, every young man is probably “Big Guy” to them. “Let’s have you sit right here, Big Guy. Perfect. Now slide that left hand down a little. OK. Tilt your head this way, Big Guy. That’s it. Now let’s try this, Big Guy…” I think they each addressed my son by his given name only once. By the end of the afternoon, I was tempted to call him Big Guy myself.
I have to admit that Mark was an extremely patient photographer. My son tends to blink every time the camera flashes. Out of the first 16 pictures Mark took, Big Guy’s eyes were closed on 13 of them. “Wow. I gotta say, Big Guy, you have the fastest reaction time of any person I’ve ever photographed. This is definitely a record.” Mark tried to be jocular, but I could tell that he was perplexed, and a little frustrated, that his usual remedies of asking the client to blink or say something just before he snapped the picture, were not working with my son. He began reviewing every picture to see if it were acceptable. Eventually he got a rhythm going, and by the time he had snapped 30 shots, he even had four in a row with open eyes. “We’re on the money, Big Guy!” he exclaimed, and then again each time he was successful thereafter.
Four clothing changes and several indoor and outdoor scene changes later, Big Guy was finished. Mark presented us with a laminated photo of one of the suit and tie photos—eyes open—and instructed us to talk to Carla, who gave us information about all the photo package possibilities. She told us to expect the proofs in about a week.
We’re looking forward to the proofs’ arrival. At that time we will pore over all those natural Big Guy poses and pick out the best ones. They will become the yearbook photo, the graduation announcement photos, the grandparents’ photos, and yes, the matted and framed 11 x14 with accompanying 5 x7’s that will hang in a place of honor on my wall for years to come. It seems that in the blink of an eye, my son has grown from little boy to young man.
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I'm really intrigued by that photographer's fantasyland garden! What a great idea! Hmmm... can I turn my backyard into a fantasyland? It does have grass now, at least. Good thing Mr. Photographer had a digital camera to check for blinking eyes. Tell Big Guy congratulations on his successful photo-taking session.
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